Andrew T. Miltenberg, an attorney who has represented college students and faculty facing allegations of sexual misconduct, will file a lawsuit next week on behalf of former University professor Sergio Verdú, according to The New York Times. It is unclear if the suit will be filed directly against the University.
Miltenberg did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Miltenberg has represented “dozens” of accused male students on college campuses, with many of his cases involving due process and Title IX procedure issues. He is perhaps most famous for his defense of Columbia University student Paul Nungesser, who was accused of raping another Columbia student, Emma Sulkowicz, in 2012. He then became the subject of an art performance about the accuser’s experience.
Miltenberg succeeded in settling with Columbia in July 2017.
Miltenberg also represents faculty accused of sexual misconduct, like professors who have resigned from their jobs after facing allegations.
The news of an upcoming suit filed by Miltenberg concerning Verdú comes after Verdú was dismissed from the University faculty on Sept. 24.
According to a statement from the Office of Communications, “the dismissal was recommended by the President and the Provost after an investigation established that Dr. Verdu violated the University’s policy prohibiting Consensual Relations with Students and its policy requiring Honesty and Cooperation in University Matters.”
The statement also notes that, prior to submission to the Board of Trustees, the recommendation “was reviewed by an independent, standing committee of the faculty at the request of Dr. Verdu.” This committee agreed that Verdú had violated University policies and “concluded that the recommended penalty was reasonable.”
Allegations that Verdú had past relationships with students were reported to the University in February and March of 2017, including that he was seen, allegedly, romantically kissing a graduate student at a conference.
At the time of his dismissal, Verdú was on probation due to a different disciplinary violation that occurred in 2017, according to the Office of Communications.
In June 2017, Verdú was found responsible by a Title IX panel for sexual harassment of his graduate student advisee, Yeohee Im, for which he was disciplined with counseling and training sessions but not put on probation. The Title IX investigation centered around two incidents in which Verdú and Im were watching television alone in Verdú‘s home. Verdú allegedly put his arm around Im and put his hand on her thigh. In November 2017, Verdú wrote to The Daily Princetonian that he denied all allegations of advances or harassment.
The University Office of General Counsel did not respond to request for comment at the time of publication.
Assistant Vice President of Communications Daniel Day declined to comment.
Verdú did not immediately respond to request for comment at the time of publication.
This story is breaking and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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